Fans urged to interact during the premiere by utilizing the Twitter hashtag #BigHurtHOF for a chance to win a number of great prizes, including a Frank Thomas autographed bat!

Chicago, IL (July 10, 2014) – With one of the greatest hitters in not only Chicago history, but in all of baseball history, prepares to officially be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Comcast SportsNet will provide viewers with a brand new documentary entitled Welcome to Cooperstown: Frank Thomas, a one-hour Comcast SportsNet Original Production chronicling the life and undisputed brilliant playing career of the White Sox legend. Narrated by national media personality, author, radio host, columnist, and lifelong White Sox fan Richard Roeper, Welcome to Cooperstown: Frank Thomas premieres Thursday, July 17 at 6:30 PM CT exclusively on Comcast SportsNet. CSN will also re-air this documentary special later that evening at 10:00 PM, as well as Saturday, July 26 at 7:00 PM, and on Sunday, July 27 at 4:30 PM, the day of Thomas’ Hall of Fame induction.

To coincide with the premiere airing of Welcome to Cooperstown: Frank Thomas on July 17, Comcast SportsNet is urging fans to share their thoughts, memories and comments on social media by utilizing the Twitter hashtag #BigHurtHOF during the documentary special. Comcast SportsNet’s Twitter handle (@CSNChicago) will be retweeting a number of fan tweets that evening, plus – a select number of fan tweets using the #BigHurtHOF hashtag will have the opportunity to win a CSN prize pack, special autographed items, including a signed Frank Thomas bat.

Produced, written and edited by Comcast SportsNet’s Emmy-award winning tandem of Executive Producer of Original Content – Sarah Lauch and Senior Producer of Original Content – Ryan McGuffey, Welcome to Cooperstown: Frank Thomas takes an in-depth look at “The Big Hurt’s” personal and professional life from his childhood days being a three-sports star in Columbus, GA…to his historic, record-breaking career with the White Sox, in which he won back-to-back American League MVP honors in 1993 & 1994…to receiving the official call that will enshrine his legacy for generations to come.

“Frank Thomas is not only a Chicago baseball legend, but he will go down as one of the greatest athletes to ever play the game,” said Kevin Cross, News Director for Comcast SportsNet Chicago. “Our production team, led by Sarah and Ryan, has truly captured the story of Frank’s life in a special way and, more importantly, fans will be able to understand the true essence of what this Hall of Famer is all about.”

Among other key highlights from the Welcome to Cooperstown documentary will also feature the exclusive, behind-the-scenes access video when Thomas received the official induction phone call from the Baseball Hall of Fame, along with Thomas’ exclusive tour of the Hall of Fame with CSN’s White Sox Pre/Postgame Live host Chuck Garfien that took place earlier this year. Plus — Welcome to Cooperstown will feature never-before-seen photos & videos of Thomas’ baseball and football playing days at Columbus (GA) H.S. and collegiately at Auburn University, video of Thomas’ favorite childhood hangouts in Columbus, GA, a video barrage of Thomas’ biggest home runs throughout his remarkable career and much more.

Please note the following quotes from the Comcast SportsNet Original Production of Welcome to Cooperstown: Frank Thomas, narrated by Richard Roeper, debuting Thursday, July 17 at 6:30 PM CT: